Baal Shem Tov
Also known as Yisroel ben Eliezer, Israel ben Eliezer, Besht, Rabbi Yisroel Baal Shem Tov, Master of the Good Name
Polish founder of Hasidic Judaism (1698–1760)
Quotes
- “Amalek is still alive today … Every time you experience a worry or doubt about how God is running the world – that's Amalek launching an attack against your soul. We must wipe Amalek out of our hearts whenever – and wherever – he attacks so that we can serve God with complete joy.”
via Wikiquote · CC BY-SA
Key facts
- Born
- Yisroel ben Eliezer , c. 1700 , Okopy Świętej Trójcy , Kingdom of Poland (now Ukraine) or Principality of Moldavia (now Romania)
- Died
- 1760, Międzybóż , Kingdom of Poland (now Ukraine)
- Buried
- Międzybóż
- Spouse
- Chana (only named in legends)
- Children
- Tsvi of Pinsk (1729–1779) Udel (1720–1787)
- Parents
- Eliezer (father) Sara (only named in legends) (mother)
- Religion
- Judaism
- Successor
- Dov Ber of Mezeritch (1704–1772)
- Main work
- Keter Shem Tov Tzavaat HaRivash Baal Shem Tov Al Hatora
Article
Israel ben Eliezer (c. 1700 −1760), known as the Baal Shem Tov (/ˌbɑːl ˈʃɛm ˌtʊv, ˌtʊf/; Hebrew: בעל שם טוב) or BeShT (בעש״ט), was a Jewish mystic and healer regarded as the founder of Hasidic Judaism. A baal shem tov is a "Master of the Good Name"—that is, one able to work miracles using a secret name of God. Other sources explain his sobriquet as arising from a reputation of being a saintly, or superior, Baal Shem ('miracle-worker'); hence, he was given the nickname Baal Shem Tov (the "good Baal Shem").
Biographical information about the Baal Shem Tov comes from contemporary documents from the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and the legends about his life and behavior collected in the Praise of the Besht (שבחי הבעש״ט, Shivḥei haBesht).